Joe awoke, and blinked at the bright moonlight in his eyes.
It was time.
Joe gently wrapped his arms around Mandie and squeezed.
Mandie took a deep breath, and turned.
"Hmm?" She said, blinking in the moonlight and looking at his face questioningly.
"We've got to go. Get dressed, I'll get some things." Joe whispered.
Mandie remembered, and nodded. She got up, and went to the restroom to dress.
Once she came out, Joe was standing by the luggage, putting things into a carpet bag, already dressed.
Mandie put her small hand on his broad shoulder and tiptoed to see what he was packing.
"Will we be alright?" Mandie asked, her sky blue eyes had a worried, sad look in them.
Joe's heart ached. Adrian had hurt Mandie. Many things had hurt Mandie. Joe had failed to protect her from those things. He still felt guilty, even if there was nothing he could have done to stop it.
Joe wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his cheek on her head.
"I don't know. God will protect us." whispered Joe, hugging her tightly.
Mandie rested her head on Joe's chest.
"What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee." Mandie whispered, gazing upwards.
"Yes. We will trust in God." Joe murmured, also gazing upwards.
They were silent for a moment.
Joe sighed and released Mandie, and began to pack again.
Mandie stood beside him, still slightly blushing, and watched him.
"How can we pack some food?" asked Mandie.
"We can't, without risking being caught even more. We'll have to make it to town. I plan to go down to the stables and hitch up a buggy or something so we could ride to the nearest town. Once we're there, we can get the law involved, and find a place to stay." Said Joe, his face had the same worried, anxious look they had had for the past two days.
Mandie longed to see him happy again, see him smile without worry, and hear his cheery laugh.
Mandie sighed.
"I'll just be glad when we can get home and get back to normal. Sometimes I feel I should change my name, and move across the country, to avoid all this drama. It's not even a mystery, it's just a person being evil." Mandie said, sounding exasperated.
"Oh no, you're not changing Amanda Elizabeth Woodard. You're my Mrs. Mandie Woodard for life, alright?" Joe said, half teasing half serious.
"Oh, so it's a matter to tease about, is it?" Mandie shot back jokingly.
"Mandie, you know what I mean," Joe said seriously.
"Yes, I know what you mean." Mandie said contentedly.
They packed some clothes, and certain necessities. Then they put on their coats, and Mandie held baby Ned.
Joe cautiously opened the window, stuck his head out, and looked around.
"All clear," Joe said in low tones, holding out his hand.
Mandie took his hand and held her baby tightly.
Joe put his hands on her waist and got her out of the window and onto the ground.
Joe reached back inside, grabbed a green carpet bag with their things in it, and closed the window.
Joe took Mandie's hand, and they both jogged swiftly through the frosty grass to the large barn in the distance.
Soon, they arrived at the back of the barn.
Mandie and Joe caught their breath, and then Joe cautiously opened the barn door.
"Hey! Horse Thieves aren't appreciated around here!" A man shouted, with a thick irish accent.
Joe pulled Mandie behind the barn door.
"Stay here," Joe whispered.
"Be careful!" Mandie warned.
Joe slowly walked back into the barn with his hands up to show he wasn't armed.
"I'm not armed," Joe called.
A man stepped out of a stall, a rifle in hand. He had graying blond, almost silver hair, but his icy blue eyes pierced through the faint moonlight.
"Well what are the likes of you doing around here?" Asked the man, rifle still aimed.
"My wife, our baby, and I have been kidnapped, forced to come here. We're trying to escape." Joe said.
"Kidnapped, you say? I haven't heard of any kidnappings around here. What about your names?" The man asked.
"Woodard. My name's Joe Woodard, My wife's Amanda." Joe stated.
"Woodard? Don't sound irish. Sounds american. I'm Jack. Where are you from?" Jack inquired.
"North Carolina." Joe answered.
"Oh, so you are american. Well, what would my boss be doing with the likes of you americans? Your wife can come out of wherever she's hiding, if you're not making this up." Jack said, lowering his rifle.
Joe dropped his hands and motioned to Mandie.
Mandie slowly came into the barn and stood beside Joe, looking at the man warily.
"Alrigh', I see you're not making this up., an' you've got a baby. Now what would my boss have to do with you?" Jack asked again.
"If your boss is Adrian, then he has a lot to do with us. My wife's maiden name is Shaw. Before we were married, my wife had met Adrian, and thought nothing much of him, but unfortunately Adrian thought she did like him. When we got married, Adrian interrupted our ceremony and caused a fuss. After that we didn't see any more of him until now. While on my way to work, I was held up by Adrian's cousins, of the names Sean, Sullivan, Murphy and Walsh. Maybe they are familiar to you. They forcibly took me with them, back to my house, where they told my wife her grandmother had an accident in Ireland, saying I had gone ahead. My wife went with them, while Sean and Sullivan kept me with them as we followed my wife. Then my wife was brought here, along with her baby, and apparently Adrian plans to marry her, claim our baby is his, and force me to either disappear, or die. Now, we're here, and we want to escape. If you weren't here, I probably would have stolen a horse, but I'd find a way to give it back." Joe finished.
Jack let out a long whistle.
"I never knew my boss would do something like that. Well, I could give you a ride into the nearest big town. Adrian is my boss, but it's not right for him to kidnap you three." Jack said.
Mandie let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Jack. We appreciate it." Joe said, holding out his hand.
Jack took it and shook Joe's hand firmly.
"Think nothing of it, lad. I would have stolen the horse if I was in your position. You've got yourself a pretty lass there. Enjoy her, lad. I had a wife once. She had the bonniest red locks, and the prettiest green eyes. She was the most beautiful lass you'd ever lay your eyes on, at least to me. She's gone now, up in heaven. I take comfort in knowing I'll see her again, when the Good Lord calls me home." Jack said, with a sad smile. He began to bring out a couple horses, and harness them to a carriage.
"My daddy had red hair. He's up in heaven now, too." Said Mandie, her voice quivering a little, giving him a smile.
Jack nodded.
"We will see them in heaven, if we believe and trust in Jesus." Jack said, his icy blue eyes softened.
Joe put his arm around Mandie, as they waited for Jack to finish hitching up the horses and carriage.
Jack finished hitching them up and led them outside.
"Now, we'll take the back roads, so we won't attract much attention," said Jack, looking into the distance.
"Won't they notice you're missing?" asked Joe.
"Nay, lad. I'm going to retire in a few days, an' if they catch me doing something, I'll just retire early. Now, get in the carriage, and hurry now," Jack said.
Joe helped Mandie into the carriage, and climbed in himself.
Jack spurred on the horses, and they began on the road to the nearest town.
Mandie shivered, and held her baby closer.
Joe noticed, and put his arms around her.
Mandie soon warmed, as well as her baby.
"Thank God we don't have to walk. It would have been a longer time in the cold." Joe said softly.
"Yes. God is protecting us." Mandie murmured.
Joe hugged her tighter and kissed her.
"Yes."
Mandie's heart fluttered, and warmed.
Well, that is it for chapter 7! Don't forget to leave a review!
See y'all in the next one!
~EquestrianIntrovert